5 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month with your Kids & Students

Black History Month falls in February of each year, and too often we see it “celebrated” by discussing a limited, and sometimes dishonest, scope of history, largely marked by struggle. But, we must do more than that. 

Black History Month offers an important opportunity to intentionally engage with the diverse stories, contributions, and lived experiences of Black individuals and communities. The true value of celebrating Black History isn’t found in one-time activities or surface-level lessons. Instead, this month can serve as a necessary reminder to deepen how we talk about history, culture, identity, and equity in the everyday spaces where our children learn and grow. For both parents and educators, meaningful celebration has to look less like checking a box and more like building habits that foster representation and connection.

Center Black joy (not just trauma)

Acknowledging the realities of racism and injustice – and actively working to challenge them through education, civic engagement, and advocacy – is essential year-round. But it is not the sole focus of Black History Month. Centering Black joy means intentionally highlighting stories of creativity, love, humor, celebration, culture, success, triumph, and simple everyday life. It’s our job to honor a diverse set of Black experiences when we discuss Black history, so that we can honor all of it, not just the parts shaped by struggle.

Diversify your library

The books children read help shape how they see themselves and others: they serve as mirrors to help us better understand ourselves, but even more importantly, they serve as windows through which we can look to see and understand the world around us. So, a powerful way to help children better understand their world – especially our diverse world that looks different than what they know inside their own home – is through books. Right now is a great moment to take a look at your bookshelf to ensure your kids or students see Black characters and authors represented across genres, in ways that extend far beyond stories about civil rights or hardship. When children regularly encounter diverse voices in their reading, across a wide range of experiences, inclusion becomes normal rather than exceptional, and all students benefit from broader perspectives. 

Support Black-owned businesses

Supporting Black-owned businesses is a tangible way to take action. As you purchase books, clothing, art supplies, gifts, or food, you can make the conscious choice to shop at Black-owned businesses; and, in doing so, you can help strengthen local communities and model for children how to live your values with your financial decisions.

Visit a new museum

Museums and cultural centers can bring history to life, especially for kids. Visiting a museum that centers Black history, art, or culture allows children to engage with stories visually and experientially, making learning more meaningful. These spaces often highlight narratives that are missing from textbooks and help deepen understanding through real-world context. And, paying for admission is another meaningful way to support these spaces in preserving and sharing Black history and culture for future generations.

Ask & answer the important questions

Encouraging open, honest conversations is one of the most impactful things adults can do in our fight for equity. And don’t wait for your kids to bring it up! Ask the questions yourself; invite children to consider ideas about identity, fairness, representation, and belonging, then model thoughtful, age-appropriate responses. Doing this in safe spaces, like the dinner table, or in a casual conversation with a student builds trust, curiosity, empathy, and critical thinking. We can signal that these topics can be honestly discussed, rather than avoided. When trusted adults open the door, conversations that were “difficult” or “taboo” for prior generations can become honest, natural, and clear for future generations.

Continue to do all of the above, all year round!

Engagement with Black history and culture should not and cannot be confined to a single month. The real impact comes from sustained practice: consistently choosing diverse books, voices, experiences, and conversations every single day throughout the year. When these actions become part of everyday life for every family & classroom, regardless of identity, children learn that inclusion, equity, and representation are foundational values that extend far beyond February each year. 

The goal of Black History Month is not perfection, but intention. It’s about careful consideration of what we read, where we shop, the spaces we visit, and the conversations we’re willing to have. When these practices are carried forward beyond February, they can become part of how children see the world: more accurately, more compassionately, and more inclusively. In doing so, we aren’t just teaching history, we’re taking this opportunity to shape the values and perspectives of our next generation.